Ukraine’s border guard service has confirmed that Wagner mercenaries have now arrived in Belarus from neighbouring Russia.
The DPSU says it is assessing how many “militants” are in Belarus, which also shares a border with Ukraine, as well as their exact location and goals.
One unconfirmed report said a convoy of some 60 Wagner vehicles rolled over the border into Belarus early on Saturday.
In June, Wagner’s mutiny challenged President Vladimir Putin’s authority.
A deal ended the 24-hour rebellion, which saw the troops seize a city and march on Moscow – aborting it just 200km (124 miles) from the capital.
Under the agreement, Wagner fighters were told they could join either the regular Russian army or go to Belarus, a close ally of Russia. The Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was also offered a move to Belarus, however his current whereabouts are unknown.
Wagner is a Russian private military company made up of mercenary fighters – many of whom were recruited from Russian prisons. They have fought some of the bloodiest battles since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
DPSU spokesman Andriy Demchenko confirmed Wagner’s presence in Belarus in a short statement on Saturday.
He said Ukrainian border guards were “continuing to monitor the situation” across the country’s northern border. He provided no further details.
Earlier in the day, a Telegram channel associated with a prominent Belarusian opposition blogger reported that a large Wagner convoy entered Belarus from Russia.
Belaruski Hajun channel said the vehicles – including pickups, lorries and buses – were being accompanied by Belarusian traffic police as they headed to the town of Osipovichy, about 85km (53 miles) south-east of the capital Minsk.
Source: bbc.com
